Piper PA-28-161 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, October 10, 1987
On October 10, 1987 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4342B, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1987 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4342B · no longer on the register · serial 28-8416050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO A LAYER OF FOG WHILE MAKING AN ENROUTE DESCENT FOR LANDING AT HIS DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXECUTE A CLIMBING COURSE REVERSAL. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH HE LOST CONTACT WITH ALL GROUND LIGHTS AND ENTERED A SHARP BANK IN AN EFFORT TO TURN AROUND AND CLIMB. 'THE ABRUPT MANEUVERS AND TOTAL LACK OF GROUND REFERENCE CAUSED ME TO BECOME DISORIENTED.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,579 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1987; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 1:15 am
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 am from SBP, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.